Giovanni Ricci is a Slot Specialist TE for Western Michigan. Giovanni's 2019 season ranks in the 100th percentile nationally by opponent-adjusted EPA per play across 83 plays — a elite rate for the TE.
The offense's primary passing-down weapon — routes, separation, and reliability on 3rd down define this role.
Players from 2014–2024 matched on EPA efficiency, play volume, and adjusted value tier — not just one metric.
| Player | Team | Yr | Plays | WEPA/play | Line val | Total EPA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seth Green | Minnesota | 2018 | 83 | 0.390 | 0.0 | 32.4 |
| Ty Thompson | Tulane | 2024 | 48 | 0.420 | 0.4 | 20.2 |
| Johnny Langan | Rutgers | 2020 | 59 | 0.300 | 0.0 | 17.7 |
| Evan Svoboda | Wyoming | 2024 | 75 | 0.290 | 0.0 | 21.8 |
| Jordan Myers | Rice | 2021 | 59 | 0.270 | 0.2 | 15.9 |
Comps are statistical — efficiency, volume, and value tier all factor in. Style and conference context differ.
| Wk | Opponent | Result | Opp SP+ | Rec | Rec Yds | Avg | Rec TD | Long | EPA/play |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | vsMonmouth | W48-13 | — | 5 | 97 | 19.4 | 2 | 36 | 1.94 |
| 2 | @Michigan State | L17-51 | 7.2 | 6 | 53 | 8.8 | 1 | 14 | 0.37 |
Usage = share of team plays (CFBD has no true snap counts).
Rec 4 · Rec Yds 20 · Avg 5.0 · Rec TD 0
| 3 |
| vsGeorgia State |
| W57-10 |
| -10.5 |
| 1 |
| 30 |
| 30.0 |
| 0 |
| 30 |
| 2.60 |
| 4 | @Syracuse | L33-52 | -3.0 | 8 | 105 | 13.1 | 1 | 24 | 0.88 |
| 5 | vsCentral Michigan | W31-15 | -4.4 | 3 | 65 | 21.7 | 1 | 43 | 0.91 |
| 6 | @Toledo | L24-31 | -13.7 | 4 | 36 | 9.0 | 1 | 18 | 0.26 |
| 7 | vsMiami (OH) | W38-16 | -9.2 | 2 | 21 | 10.5 | 0 | 16 | -0.81 |
| 8 | @Eastern Michigan | L27-34 | -8.6 | 6 | 88 | 14.7 | 0 | 39 | 0.79 |
| 9 | vsBowling Green | W49-10 | -27.5 | 5 | 56 | 11.2 | 0 | 18 | 0.66 |
| 11 | vsBall State | W35-31 | -4.5 | 1 | 33 | 33.0 | 0 | 33 | -0.42 |
| 12 | @Ohio | W37-34 | 3.7 | 4 | 27 | 6.8 | 2 | 16 | 0.72 |
| 14 | @Northern Illinois | L14-17 | -13.9 | 2 | 11 | 5.5 | 0 | 6 | -0.04 |
| 1 | vsWestern Kentucky | L20-23 | 1.7 | 4 | 20 | 5.0 | 0 | 7 | -0.30 |